Sofa bed



Sept. 29, 1953 Filed oct. 11. 1948 R. COOPERSMITH SOFA BED 5Sheets-Sheet l HS AT TORNEYS.

2 l V NTOR'- MM R. COOPERSMITH Spt. 29, 1953 SOFA BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Oct. 11, 1948 |NvENT o C7414 wu" HIS ATTORNEYS.

SePt- 29, 1953 R. cooPr-:RsMlTH 2,653,329

HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1953 R. cooPERsMlTl-l SOFA BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Oct. ll, 1948 FIG. 8.

9 I TORNEY.

CCM

His AT Patented Sept. 29, 1953 ITED V ;PATEN T' assaazs V'som manRudolph xCoopersmth, Clayton, Mo

Applicationctober 11, 1948, SeriaLNo. 53,783

work of the sofa 'bed and, when extended,v the frame `is supported onlegs, pivoted to the 'frame of the extensiblev member .so 'that theVframe land fabric are 'capable of supporting a mattress. 'Provision ismade in the frame 'so 'that when it is, folded, certain parts of theWire fabric are maintained taut and supported so that 'when the seatcushions rest upon these certain parts, the frame and fabric will noty'ield underjthe weight that is imposed thereon. 'The part of thefabri'c. which is held taut when the frame folded, is released when theframe is Vextended for the purpose of supporting a mattress. Theunp'rvoted end of said .support structure or leg partV engages the frameto support same and a front uphoistery board carried by anon-collapsible box is. incorporated in the frame.

The object of the invention is to provide a foIdabIe frame for a sofabed in which the most i remote portion of the frame, when folded, formsa base for and constitutes the supportv for the seat cushions of thesofa, and also provides a support for the unsupported end of the remoteportion of the frame when folded into the 'sofa frame; also to providemeans for spring supporting a11 sides of the portion of fabric suspendedbetween the frame parts upon which the seat cushion rests when the frameis folded into the sofa framework and for rigidly supporting anupholstery board that forms a part of the front of the sofa when theframe is folded into the sofa framework.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sofa bed showing the mattress supportingframework in unfolded position.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof taken substantially along the line 2,-2-ofv Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing a portion of the frameworkparts after the first step of folding the framework,

Fig. 4 is a side eievational view showing the position of the frameworkparts after folding to an intermediate position,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view showing the framework parts incompletely fol'ded position within the framework of the sofa,

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view taken substantially along the line6-6 of Fig. 2-,

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the sofa with the frame- \z vfoork parts inthe 'compietely folded position of '8 is a section taken suhstantiaiiyalong -the line 8" 8 of Fig. "7, 5 Fig. e is an eniargezi d'etaed pianview of a ,portion of the extensibie framework,A

Fi'g. IO is 'anl eniarged .side eievational view of ,the .structureshown in Fi'g. e and substantially between the vlines tB-ib of Pig. 1,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged' detaiied view of a portion of the extensibie.framework taken substan- 'tlall'y along the vline I'if-tif of Fg. 2,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed view of the extensble framework takenlsubstantially along the line 12-42 of Fig. 10,

Figv` 13 an. enlarg'ed sectionai view of another portion of the.framework 'taken substantialiy along; the line 13- i'3 of l'ig` 2,,

14. is. an enlarged sectional view of vanother 'portion of theextensibleframework taken substantially along the, line. lit-ll. of Fg`2,

. Fig. 1.5 is, a sectionai view. taken substantialiy along the line15,-15 of Fig. 1,I

V Fig, 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 16-16.of i'igl` 7, Fig-4 l'Z a side. eevational view of the outer end of a,modified form of the. foldable frame for -a sofav bed,

Figi,` 18I is a view ofthe structure illustrated in IF'ig` 17 whenfolded. into. the sofa; and

Fig. 1.9. is a plan view of. a portion of the modi- Viied told-able,frame` The invention -is embo'died in a sofa having a .framework thatcomprises side. arms. 'I and. rear- Ward longitudinai members 2connected betw V.en

the side. arms I. to space them4 apart.` Other suit- .able connectingmembers are provided between the twosicle arms, as is customary in theart and as will be hereinafter set forth` Appropriately secured to eachof, the side. arms are brackets 3, one bracket. being seoured to eacharm I. Each bracket has pivoted thereto by Vmeans of a, pin 3a, one endof an arm 4, each arm beingl provided with a right-'angle bend. Eachlbar; 5 has one end rigidly secured to the other end of each of the. armsAi The other end `of each of the. bars 5 is pivoted to one end of eachof the bars 6 by means; of pins i. The, other end ofeaoh. of the 'marsis:- pivote-zi. to one end of each of the bars. 8 by means of pies. 9,the bar B constituting one member of an upholstery board "supporting'structure to he desoribed in greater detail hereinafter', and the otherend of each of `the bars. 8 is pivoted to one. end of' each of the bars10 by means ofpins H. The unpivoted ends of bars w are rigidly connectedtogether in oriier to maintain them in suitably' spaced relationship bymeans of an angie bar 12, and a similar bar 12m is connected across theother frame between the pivoted ends of bar-s 5. The bar 12 preferablyhas a piece of Wood secured thereto to be used for upholstery purposes.

Supporting legs |3, only one being shown, for the bars 6, are pivotedthereto at a point adjacent pins 9 by means of pins Ill, and bars 15have one end of each pivoted to each of the legs |3 by pins IB located asuitable distance from pins |4. The other end of each of bars IE ispivoted to each of the supporting bars ll that have right angular bendstherein with the outer ends of the longer arms of each bar being pivotedto each of the structural members IB constituting a part of side arm I,by means of pins |3. Bars lla and bracer I'lb (Fig. 14) are connectedbetween bars Il in order to make them move in unison. Suitably securedto the structural members [8, forming a part of each side arm I, areright angle brackets 23 provided with reinforcing arms 2|. One end ofSprings 22 is secured to one end of each of arms 2! and the oppositeends of the Springs are secured to pins 23 that connect one end of eachof arms l with each of the bars Il. Each of bars H is also pivoted toeach of the bars 6 by means of pins 6a.

Legs 24 are pivoted to each of bars IO by means of pins 25 fixed insuitable brackets secured to the bars Ill, and each of bars 23 has oneend thereof pivoted to the upper ends of legs 24, as viewed in Fig. 2,by means of pins 21 and the other ends of each of bars 23 being pivotedto each of bars 8 by means of pins 28 secured to each of bars 8 at apoint near pins H. A suitable bracket 26a is secured to each bar 23 inorder to limit rotationa1 movement of legs 24 relative to bars IB -and23.

The portion of the foldable frame that forms part of the front of thesofa constitutes a pair of bars 29, one end of each bar being suitablysecured to a bar 8 and the opposite end. of each of the bars 23 beingrigidly connected by means of bars 30 to which a suitable upholsterysupporting board 3! is connected. Diagonal bracing for bars 23 and 33,if so desired, may be provided by means of bars 32 that extenddiagonally across the rectangular frame for the supporting board 3|.Suitable bracing is provided at the corners of the foldable frame bymeans of bars 33 in the portion thereof that is disposed Within thesofa, and the shorter bars 33 are diagonally disposed across the cornersof the extremities of the frame and additional reinforcing is providedfor the rectangular support for the upholstery board in the form of bars35 disposed upon each end of the board 3| supporting framework.Longitudinal spacing of bar B is accomplished by means of bars Mconnected between bars 29 at the ends thereof.

An auxiliary support 36' is secured to the inner ends of each of thebars I 0 and extending beyond each pivot Il. Another auxiliary support33 is secured to each of the bars 8 intermediate the ends thereof. Eachof the bars 28 has an angular or dog leg bend 23h therein adiacent thepivot 23 so that the part of the bar adjacent the pivot 23 lies flatagainst the bars 8. As viewed in Fig. 4, one of the upholstery boardframe braces 29 extends over and is engaged on the under side by theauxiliary support 36' when the sectional frame of the bed is folded intothe sofa frame and thereby prevents collapse of the unpivoted end beyondthe horizontal during the folding operation. When the frame is extendedas shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, the end of each of the bars 26extending beyond the pivots 28 extends under the supports 36 while theends of each of the .4 bars 6 beyond the pivots 9 engage under the otherend of each of the supports 36 to strengthen and prevent collapse of theframe when in extended position, and when folded as in Fig. 5, thesupport 36 is in Vertical position with the lower end engaging the-horizontal bar 3 to further aid in supporting the unpivoted end of thesectional frame during the folding operation and when in foldedposition.

A wire fabric 31 is suspended between the several side bars 5, 6, 8 andIO of the framework and is connected thereto by a plurality of Springs38, one end of each of which is disposed in loops formed in the ends ofthe fabric and whose other end is hooked in suitable apertures cut insaid side bar members. Side bars I!! have auxiliary bars ma thereon towhich springs 38 aresecured. The ends of the wire fabric are alsosupported by Springs 38, one end of each hooking about the end wires ofthe fabric whose opposite ends are hooked in suitable apertures cut inthe end bar members {2 and I2a.

Provision is made for support of the wire fabric when the frame isfolded into the framework of the sofa so that there will be adequatesupport for that portion of the wire fabric on which the cushions restwhen the frame is folded between the side arms I. This support comprisesa series of secondary spring elements 39, one end of each of which maybe secured to a link 43 that is connected to one end of the cross wiresof the fabric 3'1, the other ends of the springs 39 being insertedthrough an aperture cut in one of the bar members 4|. The springs 39 arein tensioned condition when the frame is folded into the sofa, asillustrated in Fig. 16, and when it is unfolded for supporting amattress, springs 39 are in released condition, as illustrated in Fig.15. The fabric 31 follows the fold lines of the pivots of the frame byreason of the connection to the bar 4 i thereby eliminating saggingthereof when the frame is folded.

When it is desired to convert the article of furniture from a bed to asofa, the outer bar |2 is grasped and lifted upward so that the bars iiiare pivoted about pins li, all of which are folded to the Fig. 3position, in which condition legs 2!! will be folded against the barsma. The unbolstery board 3| supporting framework is then lifted andmoved to the Fig. li position wherein bar 3 pivots about pins 5a, l and3 and simultaneously causes bars ll and 5 to pivot about pins 'i andrespectively, and moved until they assume the Fig. 4 position. When theparts have been moved to this position, bars ll' will be pivoted aboutpins IB and 23 so that bars ll will be moved underneath bars E0. Whenpins 53 and have moved past the Vertical plane through pins 5 3, theboard 3! and the frame to which it is secured is then movcd downwardlyso that it assumes the Fig. 5 position wherein the board El itself withand rests on board 42 which is part of the frame that connects the sidearms at the base hereof. The right-angular portion of the bars i? nowsupport the unpivoted ends of bars io and the spring 22 has beentensioned so that the entire frame is rigid and in condition to Supportcushions so that the article of furniture may be employed as a sofa. Thereverse motion of the several parts is performed when it desired to openthe foldable frame so that it may support a mattress.

A modified form of foldable framework is illustrated in Figs. 17 to 19,which show the unpivoted end thereof. A fabric M is positioned betweenthe end bar l2 and the bar 4| mounted on the upholstery board frame withSprings 43 connecting the fabric 44 to the bars 12 and 4| and to theside bars a. The fabric 44 extends under that portion of the fabric 31between the upholstery board frame and the en'd bar E2 when the frame isunfolded, and when the free end section of the frame is folded into thesofa frame the free end section moves 180, thus reversing the fabrics sothat the fabric 44 is now above that part of the fabric 31 between theupholstery board frame and the end bar. The hooks on the springs 43connecting the fabric 44 to the framework lhave been so turned as toextend downwardly, thereby preventing the tearing of cushions. By virtueof the fact that the auxiliary fabric 44 is connected to the bar 41 onthe upholstery board frame and Which upholstery board frame remainsrigid with respect to the section 8 of the side bars, tension is placedupon the springs 43, thus causing the auxiliary fabric 44 to become tautand presenting a smooth surface on which to place the sofa cushions.

What I claim is:

1. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame; a frame consisting of a pluralityof sections pivoted together and fol'dable into said sofa frame; anoncollapsible upholstery board supporting frame secured to one of saidsections for stiifening the frame; means for pivoting one end of saidsectional frame to said sofa frame, the other end of said sectionalframe being unpivoted; a metal fabric spring suspended from the sides ofsaid sectional frame; a bar extending across said supporting frame andsecured thereto parallel to said unpivoted end and displaced therefrom;and spring means for connecting the metal fabric to said bar and forsupporting the fabric when the sectional frame is folded into the sofaframe, the fabric suspended between said bar and the unipivoted end ofsaid frame being adapted to support cushions for the sofa.

2. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame; a frame foldable into said sofaframe consisting of a plurality of bar members pivoted together forforming said frame into a plurality of sections; means for pivoting oneend of said frame to said sofa frame; a non-collapsible rectangularupholstery and cushion supporting frame secured to one of said framesections and including a pair of bars extending across said foldableframe; a mattress supporting fabric spring suspended from said frame;and spring means connected between one of said bars and said fabric forsupporting same adjacent to said bar for providing an additional cushionsupport when the frame is folded into said sofa frame, the fabricsuspended between said bar and the unpivoted end of said frame belngadapted to support cushions for the sofa.

3. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame; a foldable frame comprising aplurality of bar members pivoted together and forming said frame into aplurality of sections; a Wire fabric; spring means for suspending saidfabric from said bars and within said frame; means for pivoting one endof said frame to said sofa frame; a rigid front upholstery board framesecured to one of said sections and including a pair of bars extendingacross said foldable frame; means for laterally and verticallysupporting a portion of said frame and upholstery board frame membersfor enabling said board supporting frame to support seat cushions; andspring means for supporting said Wire fabric from one of said barmembers for enabling the Wire fabric to support seat cushions.

4. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame, a board secured to said sofaframe, a sectional frame consisting of a plurality of laterally spacedbars pivoted together for forming sections of a mattress supportingframe and foldable into said sofa frame, means for pivoting one end ofsaid sectional frame to said sofa frame, the other end being unpivoted,a rigid frame secured to one of said sections for stiffening saidsectional frame, means on one of said sections engaging means on thesection to which said rigid frame is secured for bracing said sectionalframe when the sectional frame is unfolded; and an upholstery boardsecured to said rigid frame alignable with and resting on said boardsecured on said sofa frame when the sectional frame is folded.

5. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame, a fol'dable frame made up of aplurality of laterally spaced side bar members pivotally connected formaking the frame sectional and having lateral bars at the extreme endsof said side bar members, means for pivoting one end of said frame tosaid sofa frame, means for supporting said frame in both its folded andunfolded condition, a wire fabric in said frame, Springs for suspendingsaid fabric from said frame, a bar in the outermost section spaced fromthe lateral end bar therein, a cushion supporting fabric in theoutermost section; and spring means for suspending said cushionsupporting fabric from the side and end bars of the outermost section.

6. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame, a foldable framework consistingof four sections pivoted one to the other and to said sofa frame, anupholstery board, a non-collapsible frame supporting said board on oneof the sections and stiffening said foldable framework, the boardforming a part of the front of the sofa when the framework is foldedinto the sofa frame, a metal fabric structure in one of the sections forsupporting the mattress when unfolded, means connecting the fabricstructure to the section to support and tension the fabric structuretherein When unfolded and means between the fabric structure and thenon-collapsible frame to support and tension the fabric structure whenfolded to support the sofa cushion thereon.

'7. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame, a frame consisting of aplurality of sections, said sections being pivoted together so that whenunfolded they will form a support for a mattress, means for pivoting oneend of said sectional frame to said sofa frame, the other end beingunpivoted, a rigid, non-collapsible frame secured to one of the sectionsfor stiffening said sectional frame, an upholstery board secured to saidnoncollapsible frame, and means on another of said sections engaging anelement of the non-collapsible frame for rigidly bracing the sectionalframe when being folded.

RUDOLPH COOPERSMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 926,854 Cling July 6, 1909 1,145,248 Kramer et al July 6, 19152,197,735 Thomas Apr. 16, 1940 2,352,989 Woller July 4, 1944 2,505,989Pokorny et al. May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 331,534Great Britain July 3, 1930

